You can't blame Knicks executives if they are wearing Orlando Magic jerseys under their corporate suits this week. Speculation the Knicks might land LeBron James with their cap space in 2010 has appeared to ignite a rash of new season-ticket subscribers since the regular season ended one month ago.
According to Scott O'Neil, MSG President of Sports Teams, the Knicks have sold 950 new season ticket packages since mid-April. That number is shocking considering that all of last offseason, the Knicks totaled 1,000 new season-ticket packages. O'Neil said renewals on season tickets are also up 5 percent over the first month of last season. If the Cavaliers are knocked out of the Eastern Conference Finals (they trail 1-0), King James likely won't sign a contract extension July 1 and will be in play in the summer of 2010 when the Knicks have cap room for potentially two marquee free agents.
O'Neil assigns the spike in season-ticket sales to the prospect of the Knicks having cap space for the first time since the mid 1990's.
"Donnie (Walsh) has a plan and he stuck to it," O'Neil told The Post. "And the style of play with Mike D'Antoni, it's made it fun. We have the smartest fans in the league and they're buying into the hope of this plan. It starts with Donnie setting it up for 2010."
The Knicks finished seventh in the league in attendance with an average of 19,288.
"That's not bad for 32 wins," O'Neil said.
The Knicks did not raise ticket prices - a policy when they don't make the playoffs. The Knicks have not promoted their Garden renovation plans, which won't start till the offseason of 2009-10.
